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Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 by Linda Wisner, Director
 We are all concerned about the war in Iraq. Many of our fathers and mothers, sons and daughters are serving this country and risking their lives for us.
They give up a lot - sometimes even their lives for what they are doing for us and their families, but some even pay an additional cost - the loss of their beloved pet. To many that may not be much, but to an owner it is not just a pet - it is a family member. These animals evoke the same strong feelings of love, pain and loss that another family member can. How does it affect the morale of a soldier who has to surrender their pet to a shelter that is already overrun with unwanted pets? To know that your "best friend" is probably going to be euthanized because there are not enough homes for these animals? Imagine being called to serve in a hostile environment and having to give up a member of your family forever? Not knowing what will happen to their beloved pet - never seeing it again. Knowing that it probably will die. Smokey is one of those family members left behind. His owner was deployed to Iraq. He was left with other family members and then dropped off at a high-kill shelter when they could no longer keep him. At first, Smokey was lucky. Someone heard about him through the internet and wanted to sponsor him to safety. They contacted Fauna Rescue, Inc. who found a long-term temporary foster home for him. Now all "we" needed to do was to get him from the shelter before he was euthanized to safety in his new home. It was Thanksgiving Day. The shelter is closed. No one answered the phone Friday, but we sent a fax with paperwork and a commitment to help ensure that Smokey wouldn't be put down over the weekend. We kept our fingers crossed. Saturday came. Then Sunday. Monday morning we finally had someone answer the phone at the shelter. "Yes. Smokey is still here there. No. They never received a fax...Hold on...(Somebody else)...Yes we have the fax here." Arrangements to a locally approved vet were made for medical treatment and boarding. Smokey was transported to the vets from the shelter the next day. He received all his "shots" and a health exam. Fauna Rescue made financial commitments to the veterinarian based on the sponsor's word. The sponsor then pulled out. Fauna Rescue was left financially holding the bag and figuring out a transport for a dog 1500 miles away. Smokey was in good health but was very scared. On Wednesday Smokey developed some nasal congestion and had to be put on medication. The vets were not concerned about any major health issues. The medication was only a few extra dollars a day - but now we are starting to worry. Are we committing financial resources that we don't have to a dog that may have to be euthanized anyway because we cannot continue to pay boarding until we can get him home? Will Smokey lose his life anyway? We try to get him on a "volunteer railroad/transport" that consists of unpaid volunteers that drive up to 100 miles or more in one direction to animals to their destination. Coordinating a transport that long is difficult and finding enough volunteers that can "link up" during the specific days and times over such a long distance compounds the difficulties. Offers come in for transport, but nothing seems to link up. We can't afford the approximate $250 to fly him up. It isn't just the flight expense. Medical and boarding expenses are mounting rapidly. We will have to board him at least seven more days because the airline requires the advance notice for all animals being shipped cargo. We are not finding a local foster home. Then Smokey may get a break. He's having a great time at the vets. "Smokey is a very happy dog" the office reports and he appears to be over his initial "fears". I then receive a message that another transport is going this weekend just outside of NYC and if Smokey gets along with the other dogs - he can tag along. Things are looking up - at least for the moment. So today, Friday, he will be tested with other dogs. If he doesn't pass the temperament with other dogs we may have to euthanize Smokey due to lack of funds. And there is a storm coming in this weekend that will probably cancel the transport. If he does pass the temperament and the run is cancelled we may have to make the decision to euthanize as we do not have a foster home locally for him and do not have funds to board him any longer. Smokey's fate will probably be sealed by the time you read this story, but he is just one of many animals out there whose lives literally depend on the kindness of "strangers" to save them. There is an organization online called "NetPets.org" that has a military foster program. They try to put together families to foster pets for service owners. (Fauna Rescue, Inc. is a separate entity from NetPets.) Fauna Rescue, Inc. does help facilitate individual placements when called upon by the public, but with limited funds there is not much we can do without public financial support and individual sponsors. Owners need to plan for their pets future in the event of "unforeseen" circumstances. Death, illness, moving, or financial difficulties can be the death of a pet. Owners believe that there is a shelter to take in their "nice" pet - but these shelters are overflowing and there is no room. Owners need to plan now - and get that plan in writing. Carry an information card in case of accident in your wallet. As a precautionary measure Fauna Rescue Inc. offers free EMERGENCY INFORMATION cards where you can put the names and phone numbers of two caretakers and your veterinarian so they may be contacted if you are unable to speak for them. If you send a SASE to Fauna Rescue, Inc., EMERGENCY CARDS, POB 6142, Nashua, NH 03063 we will send you two cards. In many instances we have to turn animals away because of lack of funds. Fauna Rescue is completely staffed with non-paid volunteers who open their homes, hearts and many times their personal pocket books to ensure that many pets have safety. It makes it even harder to do as much as we can do without financial support and the funds for a shelter facility. If you can help defray the cost of this rescue or wish to sponsor an animal in the future, please contact: Fauna Rescue, Inc. POB 6142, Nashua, NH 03063 603.889.5035 (phone & fax) or visit us online: www.faunarescue.org. To see the original postings on Smokey's progress (with updates) please Click here For an overview of Smokey's trip Click here |
Or donate directly thru GuideStar/Network for Good: 
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